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St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Lee Enterprises

Friday, March 28, 2008 9:40 PM CDT
Mattoon woman pays fine, restitution for identity theft

By DAVE FOPAY, Staff Writer
dfopay@jg-tc.com

CHARLESTON — A Mattoon woman was ordered to pay more than $2,000 in restitution and fines and also received jail time after she admitted using a man’s personal information to get utility service.

Linda M. Huckaba, 34, for whom records listed addresses on Champaign and on Marion avenues, pleaded guilty to a charge of financial identity theft that accused her of obtaining service from AmerenCIPS by using the man’s information on Aug. 12, 2006.

Restitution of just more than $1,000 and a $1,000 fine were among the terms of the 2½-year probation sentence Huckaba received for the offense that could have resulted in a prison term of two to five years. Her sentence also included 15 alternating weekends in jail along with substance abuse treatment and other counseling.

Circuit Judge Teresa Righter imposed the sentence based on a plea agreement that State’s Attorney Steve Ferguson and Public Defender Lonnie Lutz recommended.

In other cases in court recently:

- Jessica A. Niemeyer, 18, 2201½ Charleston Ave., Mattoon, pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of a cannabis with intent to deliver alleging she had marijuana she planned to sell on July 13.

Niemeyer received two years of what’s called “first offender” probation, which means she won’t have a record of a conviction if she follows her sentence’s requirements. Probation terms included payment of $1,800 in fines and substance abuse treatment while jail time was stayed, meaning it could be imposed if she violates any of the terms.

Circuit Judge Gary Jacobs accepted a plea agreement that Assistant State’s Attorney Mick McAvoy and defense attorney Bob Dunst recommended. A co-defendant, Calvert C.A. Davis, 19, of the same address, pleaded guilty in December and was also placed on probation.

- Property damage and obstructing justice charges alleging Brandon M. Bly, 21, 504 Piatt Ave., Mattoon, damaged and hid another man’s pickup truck were dismissed.

Bly was accused of hitting the truck with another vehicle on Dec. 13, 2006, then trying to hide it so the accident wouldn’t be discovered. Each charge was a felony that could have resulted in a one- to three-year prison term.

Righter dismissed the charges at Ferguson’s request, and attempts to obtain an explanation from Ferguson weren’t successful. Bly represented himself in the case.

-Christopher Long, 36, 20577 N. County Road 2600E, Oakland, pleaded guilty to a domestic battery charge alleging he hit a woman on Feb. 10 of last year and was placed on probation for two years.

The charge was a felony because of a prior conviction, and probation terms for Long included a one-month work-release jail sentence beginning April 1, more jail time that was stayed, counseling and about $1,700 in fines. Righter accepted a plea agreement, which Assistant State’s Attorney Kerri Kiger and defense attorney William McGrath recommended.

Contact Dave Fopay at dfopay@jg-tc.com or 348-5733.

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Equalizer wrote on Mar 31, 2008 12:24 PM:

" Could have resulted in, Could have resulted in, Could have resulted in.....

Exactly why there is so much crime here...never results in...always minimal sentence or reduced time, why...because we don't have enough jail cells?

We don't have enough jail cells because there is waaay too much crime! "

Late Bird wrote on Mar 31, 2008 4:09 PM:

" I caught your drift! LOL!
There is waaay too much crime because the sentencing is never what it 'could have resulted in' doggonnit! "

HisChild wrote on Mar 31, 2008 10:31 PM:

" And there's way too much crime because everyone knows they'll get off easy since there's not enough jail cells! *L!* "

My Point of View wrote on Apr 1, 2008 7:25 AM:

" Crime is beginning to rise. If the law makers do not do something about the increase in fuel prices the economy will continue to decline and crime will continue to rise. There has been an increase of auto thefts in Mattoon lately but they have kept that quiet. In Terre Haute there has been an increase in dog thefts for the purpose of selling. Hold on to everything people we are headed down hill at an increasing rate. "